The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-17
Mr.. CLEViLAND'S REVISION
OF THE ORDER TO RESTORE THE
BATTLE FLAGS
To the Confederate StAtes-He Sends
q Letter to the War De-
partment
RESCINDING THE RECOMMENDA
TION AS ILLEGAL,
Saying That the Standards Could Net
be Returned without ths Con-
sent Of Congress.

WASHING TON, j J1ne 16.-The follow
ing statement with regard to the Pres
idenrs action concerning the proposed
return of the battle fl igs was made al
the White House tonight to a repre-
sentative of the Associated Press:
when the question was proposed
to the President by the Adjutant Gen
eral an important fsature supgesl ed
was the return 10 the loyal States OF
the hsgs which had been captured by
the Confederstes and retaken By oai
army at the time of the collapse oi
the rebellion. They, with such Con-
federate figs ss bad been captured
from the enemy by our troops, bad, il
was represented, for long time lain
uncared for and neglected, packed
away in boxes, in the cellar OF the
War Department, and had been re.
! moved to the attic as better place for
their safe keeping.
The disposition of the fage, which
seemed to be answering no g ,od pur-
pose where they were, was the main
point; end the consideration was PRE-
sented to the President that some
hags had been returned to loyal
States upon their request in individ-
ual cases, and the rect, # desired.
might as we'll all be returned together.
The return of the Confederate flags,
which We're with the others in the
department, was suggested, but there
was not the slightest thought of inter-
fering in any way with the captured
fags now held by any State.
Tho fl0f annoronklxr rona;uaI r~sk1
favor by the country, that lately In one
or more cases Northern troops visit
ing their late antagonists at the South,
had returned to them fl Igs which had
been captured in battle from those
whose hospitaities they were receiv-
ing; the further fact that Northern
troops, who, within a short time had
been visiting Southern battle fields,
had spoken in the warmest terms of
the kind and hospitable treatment
they had received from Confederate
soldiers, and the fact, too, that soldiers
from the North and South were lust
gathering to meet in friendly compe-
tition at the National drill seemed to
indicate thst If the Union flags were re-
turned to the loyal States which had
lost them in battls,it wouldn't be incon
sistent with the fraternizement which
seemed to be prevalent to offer to at the
Bame time to the Governors of the
States formerly in rebellion a return
of the flags which we had taken from
their soldiers.
The right of the department to m axe
these returns being questioned by the
President, such right was distinctly
asserted and precedents alluded and
thereupon his oral assent was given to
the proposed action. The matter was
dismissed from his mind until COM
ment thereupon within the last day or
30 brought it again to his attention,
when, upon personally examining the
law and considering the subject more
carefully he satisfied himself that no
disposition of these flags could be
made without Congressional action,
vhereupon he directed a suspension
of operations by the letter made
public this evening.